Monday, July 17, 2006

Eleven Months

The Jewish eleven months are coming to an end. I have been saying Kaddish for Judah and next week marks the end of the formal mourning period. Soon Judah's memorial tablet will be ready and I can set the unveiling date. Its still impossible to believe that Judah is not sitting in the next room reading, talking and laughing. August would mark his 40th birthday. I can only imagine what a barbeque he would have made.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Judah's Tree Dedication in Westport

This is the library in Westport. Inside is a series of beautiful rooms filled with books, a large fireplace, rocking chairs, computers and even a card catalogue. The lawn in front of the library wraps around the building. Plays, puppet shows, even farmer's markets are held on the lawn in the summer. Judah loved to visit his grandparents, where his love of nature was honed. Lake Champlain is just a short walk down the hill. When my mother, Gertrude died, my father planted a tree in her memory. This year the library trustees again granted his wish to plant a tree in Judah's memory. The tree sits to the right of the steps. Its called a 'FringeTree". In maturity it will be about twenty feet tall and have a span of ten feet or so. In spring a white fringe like flower drops from glossy leaves. I saw the tree in bloom the first days I was in Westport but did not get to photograph it due to rainy weather. When the sun came out the leaves had fallen off already. A small plaque sits on the entrance way into the library bearing Judah Daniel White, JD, MD.